Bench and plank cover



P. G. ANDERSON BENCH'VAND PLANK COVER Nov. 21, 1967 Filed June 2,7, 1966 Wfl/l INVENTOR. PAUL G. ANDERSON Arron/v51@ United States Patent O 3,353,867 BENCH AND PLANK COVER Paul G. Anderson, Ontario, Calif., assignor to Haak Mfg.,

Inc., San Bernardino, Calif., a corporation of California Filed June 27, 1966, Ser. No. 560,710 2 Claims. (Cl. 297-219) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE This application is a continuation in part of my o0-A pending application Ser. No. 403,193 entitled Cover for Outdoor Seats filed Oct. 12, 1964, now .Patent No. 3,298,045.

Like the copendin-g application, the present invention overcomes the problem yof sheathing the load-bearing Wooden planks -or stringers of seats, benches and tabletops such that the wood of these furniture pieces is weatherprotected but still free to breathe to adjust to ambient humidity changes accompanying changes in weather. A nominally 2 x 10" wooden plank, for instance, fundergoes sufficient moisture content change from a wet period to a dry period to cause 1/2 variation in width. Tlhe present invention alfords apparatus in which a weatherproof cover or sheath and an enclosed resilient pad are securely attached to the plank or Stringer by means which compensates lfor changing dimension due to the change in humidity of ambient air.

Planks and stringers of wood which are completely covere-d by paint -or other nominally protective coatings destroy such coatings through surface cracking and peeling due to the interchange yof moisture to and from the interior of the wood-en member. The present invention leaves exposed the funder surfaces of the wooden members of Seats, benches and tabletops such that moisture exchange can take place without `deterioration of the furniture surface upon which the load is placed.

The invention contemplates a weatherproof cover for loadacontacted seat and table stringers that comprises a resilient pad extending the expanse ofthe Stringer and a Weatherproof sheath top covering the pad. Sheath sides integral withthe sheath top extend downwardly adjacent the sides of the stringer. A sheath side flange extends from the sheathside under the Stringer bottom to retain the sheath about the Stringer and the resilient pad. Preferably the flanges are integrally formed with the sheath sides but need not be So.

End caps secured to the cover and to the Stringer may be combined with the cover and the pad to deter vandalism and unauthorized removal of the weatherproof cover. Joint" strips may also be' used to join the ends of adjacent cover sections so that they abut in watershedding fashion.

Preferably the cover or" the invention has sheath sides with a heightless t'han the sum of the thicknesses of the Stringer and the relaxed resilient pad. When combined with the Stringer and pad the cover attains a convex upper surface which sheds water along each edge of the covered plank.

The cover, in its -preferred embodiment, exceeds the width of the Stringer at .average humidity. The space 3,353,867 Patented Nov. 21, 1967 ICC between opposed sheath side flanges 'in this embodiment is also less than the width of the Stringer at zero humidity. Thus the cover is adapted to compensate for dimension increases due to moisture absorption by the wooden Stringer Without loss of its retentive grip upon the Wooden Stringer.

These and other advantages of the invention are apparent from the Vfollowing detailed description and drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a table and benoh covered with weatherproof covers in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is -a transverse sectional elevati-on of the beneh taken along line 2 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section-al elevation of the bench taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is 'a transverse sectional elevation of the tabletop taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectionall elevation taken through ran end carp of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is 4a transverse sectional elevation of an altern-ate embodiment of the invention.

A table 11 and a benoh 12 of FIG. 1 both have loadbeang tops made of wooden stringers. As can be seen from FIG. 2, bench 12 has a seat Stringer 14. FIG. 4 shows in cross-section three tabletop stringers 16, 17 and 18. The tabletop stringers have, respectively, weatherproof covers 21, 22, 23. Seat Stringer 14 has a weatherproof cover 25.

Referring again to FIG. 1, weatherproof covers 21, 22, 23 terminate in shared end caps 27, 28. Each end cap overlaps all three of the weatherproof covers. A plurality of rivets 29 lor other like fasteners secures each end cap to the weatherproof covers. A plurality of drive screws 31 secures each end cap to the ends of the stringers.

The table itself may be a conventional picnic tabl'e in which the wooden stringers are supported upona pair of X-shaped legs 33, 34. The three stringers are joined together by two or more splice boards, such as the board 36 shown in FIG. 4.

Likewise, bench 12' .has its seat Stringer 14 supported by a pair of X-shaped legs 41, 42. Weatherproof cover 25 of the bench terminate in end caps 43, 44 secured to the cover and the stringers, respectively, by rivets 29 and drive screws 31.

Cover 25 is shown as made up of two segments 2SA, 25By which are joined by a metallic joint strip 45. 'Ilhe joint strip has a narrow upper flange 47 Iand a wide lower ange 48. A web 49 of the joint strip -intervenes between the ends of the two cover segments. Normally a bench such las that shown is ma'de from a single length of cover, 'but joint strips such as that shown :may be used when the bench lengths exceed the available lengths of the cover material.

As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, a resilient pad 50 resides on top of the seat Stringer and beneath the Weatherproof cover. The pad maybe of Iany one of several resilient materials conventionally used for padding. In the preferred' embodiment of the invention the resilient paid comprises a cotton bat which has been dipped in liquid latex to give it good resiliency. 'I'he pad resides beneath a sheath top 51 which extends transversely of the bench outwardly beyond side edges 52, 53 of the seat Stringer. Sheath sides 55, 56 extend downwardly from s-heath top 51 and terminate in inwardly projecting anges 57, 58 which extend beneath a bottom surface 59 of the seat `Stringer. The transverse distance ybetween sheath sides 55 and 56 exceeds the width W of the wooden seat Stringer by a horizontal increment C on eac-h side of the bench. 'I'he increments provide clearance for expansion of the Stringer during periods of high ambient humidity.

The sheath flanges extend toward each other along the length of the bench, preferably in contact with the bottom of the seat Stringer. A span S between the flange edges preferably is less than the minimum dimension W attained by the Stringer at lowest humidity. The Side flanges are thus always in contact with a portion of the under side of the Stringer, restraining upward moti-on of the sheath.

The height H of the Sheath sides is preferably less than the combined thicknesses T of the relaxed pad and the Stringer or plank. The pad is therefore compressed more at its edges than at its center, creating a sheath crown 61. The slope of the sheath or cover from crown to edge aids water runoff in wet weather and when the furniture is hosed for cleaning. Y

The weatherproof cover of the invention affords a comfortable seat resistant to surface damage from dampness. It resists damage from blows, since any contact force is cushioned. The resilient pad also adjusts to surface irregularities which the plank may have, Such as indentations, protruding -bolt heads, etc.

Preferably the sheath top and sides are of reinforced fiberglass. The material preferably has a high glass to resin ratio. To prevent reinforcing threads fro-m coming through the surface, the exterior planes of the cover are given an acrylic-modified coat applied at 325 F. The coating is between .007 and .010 inch thick. The cover itself is preferably .090 to .110 inch thick. This material has been found to resist track and baseball spikes effectively while having Sufficient give to prevent shattering under most blows.

The resilient pad adds to shatter resistance by its own cushioning effect.

In FIG. 4 the tabletop stringers are each covered by a weatherproof cover similar to the cover described above. However, the covers 21 and 23 are wider than the center cover 22 about Stringer 17. This relationship varies with the particular top being covered.

Splice board 36 fixed the gap G between stringers or planks of table 11. In order for the covers to be applied it may be necessary in some instances to increase the gap in order to insert the sheath side flanges between adjacent stringers and under the bottom surface thereof.

The side flanges may be notched, las at 62 and 63, to fit about the splice boards that extend in conventional fashion transversely of the tabletop.

The slight interval 65 between adjacent covered stringers of the table provides for water runoff from the crowns of the covers.

In FIG. 5 an end cap 68 has a front face 69 and side faces 71 that overlap the sheath sides (not shown) of a weatherproof cover 72. A sheath top 74 is overlapped by lan end cap top face 7S. A resilient pad 77 lies between sheath top 74 and a wooden Stringer 78. A drive screw 31 of conventional design secures the end cap to the Stringer. An explosive or pull rivet 81, which may be one of a plurality, xes the end cap to the sheath top. The rivet may be applied through a hole drilled through cover and cap `after they have been positioned in the orientation shown.

The end caps not only give -a finished appearance to the covered stringers, but deter vandalism and prevent abrasion of the cover ends.

FIG. 6 shows a bench 83 such as is conventional in gymnasiums 'and stadiums. A wooden bench Stringer 84 is fixed to a Stanchion 85 that is in turn bolted to a concrete riser 86 of the stadium. A bench back support 88 rises from the stanchion to hold a brackrest (not shown).

The wooden Stringer is covered by a weatherproof cover 91, preferably of fiberglass of the type previously described. The cover has a sheath top 92. A resilient pad lies between the top and the Stringer. Sheath sides 94, depend from the top. The space between the sheath sides iS greater than the width of the Stringer. The Sides extend below a bottom surface 96 of the Stringer. Longitudinal angle strips 98, 99 are fixed respectively to sides 94, 95 so that one flange of each tangle overlaps surface 96. The angle strips inhibit upward motion of the cover with re- Spect to the Stringer.

AS in the previously described embodiments, the sheath sides terminate above the Stringer an increment less than the relaxed thickness of the pad so that the sheath top is deformed into a convex configuration.

Like the other embodiments, the embodiment of FIG. 6 presents a weatherproof cover under which a plank may expand or contract without damage to the weatherproofing material, which is resistant to damage, does not collect water and is economical to fabricate.

Other embodiments and changes within the scope of the invention will occur to those skilled in this art. Therefore, I desire the disclosed embodiments to be regarded as illustrative only, with the invention being measured by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A weatherproof cover for the load-contacted stringers of Seats and tables comprising a resilient pad extending the expanse of the Stringer, a weatherproof Sheath top covering the pad, a sheath side integral with the sheath top and extending downwardly from the top adjacent the Stringer Sides, the sheath top and the sheath sides defining a normally channel-shaped member, .and a sheath side flange fixed to the Sheath Side and extending under the Stringer bottom to retain the sheath about the Stringer and resilient pad, each sheath side having a height less than the Sum of the thicknesses of the Stringer and the relaxed resilient pad such that the Sheath top is transversely convex when in place on the Stringer, the width of the Sheath exceeding the width of the Stringer at average ambient air humidity and the Space between opposed sheath side flanges being less than the width of the Stringer at zero humidity, and Said Stringer being free to move transversely with respect to the Sheath side flanges.

2. A weatherproof cover in accordance with claim 1 further comprising an end cap overlapping the upper surface of the Sheath top and the other Surfaces of the sides at the end of the Stringer, rneans Securing the cap to the sheath, and means securing the cap to the Stringer.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,053,471 9/1936 Frost 297-461 '2,594,516 4/1952 Swisher 10S-27 2,606,598 8/1952 Smith 297-461 2,760,562 8/1956 Fisher.

2,796,624 6/1957 Speer 52-573 3,025,104 3/1962 Murphy 297-218 3,211,497 10/1965 Bounous.

3,229,433 1/1966 Miles 52-573 3,266,545 8/1966 Kruissink 297-219 3,279,515 10/1966 Kesh 150-52 FRANCIS K.v ZUGEL, Primary Examiner. 

1. A WEATHERPROOF COVER FOR THE LOAD-CONTACTED STRINGERS OF SEATS AND TABLES COMPRISING A RESILIENT PAD EXTENDING THE EXPANSE OF THE STRINGER, A WEATHERPROOF SHEATH TOP COVERING THE PAD, A SHEAT SIDE INTEGRAL WITH THE SHEATH TOP AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE TOP ADJACENT THE STRINGER SIDES, THE SHEATH TOP AND THE SHEATH SIDES DEFINING A NORMALLY CHANNEL-SHAPED MEMBER, AND A SHEATH SIDE FLANGE FIXED TO THE SHEATH SIDE AND EXTENDING UNDER THE STRINGER BOTTOM TO RETAIN THE SHEATH ABOUT THE STRINGER AND RESILIENT PAD, EACH SHEATH SIDE HAVING A HEIGHT LESS THAN THE SUM OF THE THICKNESS OF THE STRINGER AND THE RELAXED RESILIENT PAD SUCH THAT THE SHEATH TOP IS TRANSVERSELY CONVEX WHEN IN PLACE ON THE STRINGER, THE WIDTH OF THE SHEATH EXCEEDING THE WIDTH OF THE STRINGER AT AVERAGE AMBIENT AIR HUMIDITY AND THE SPADE BETWEEN OPPOSED SHEATH SIDE FLANGES BEING LESS THAN THE WIDTH OF THE STRINGER AT ZERO HUMIDITY, AND SAID STRINGER BEING FREE TO MOVE TRANSVERSELY WITH RESPECT TO THE SHEATH SIDE FLANGES. 